Issue 5 Munich: Success or Failure?

Transcription

1 Issue 5 Munich: Success or Failure? Context Suggestions: After WWI widespread opposition to war. Chamberlain greeted as hero when he returned from Munich in September 1938 proclaiming peace in our time 1940 s people read Guilty Men publication public opinion began to turn against Chamberlain and his actions Even though revisionists challenged this view in the 1970s, Margaret Thatcher still offered official apology for the British policy of appeasement Chamberlain felt war was likely so he made three visits to Germany in September 1938 to avoid it Brief description of the three meetings Main Arguments (middle paragraphs): 1. Military Preparedness 2. Czechoslovakia worth it? 3. Unreliable Allies/Lack of International Response 4. British Public Opinion

2 1. Military Preparedness Lack of confidence in British defences Fascist states had rearmed significantly by Sep Although Britain had started rearming in 1937 it was on a much smaller scale Britain concerned about weakness of air defences. Abyssinia + Guernica had shown dangers and horrors of an air attack. Baldwin (1932) the bomber will always get through Although new aircraft such as the Hurricane and Spitfire fighters and the new radar system were being developed at this time, neither aircraft nor the radar devices were available in sufficient numbers in 1938 Defence spending had previously been overstretched and could be again if she went to war Army poorly equipped for years and was only beginning to receive modern equipment and training in Only navy seemed ready to fight with modern ships such as aircraft carriers. Argument - Munich was a triumph because... Allowed Britain to successfully secure her air defences by increasing fighter squadrons from 6 in 1938 to 26 in 1939 and extending her air defences from the Thames Estuary only in 1938 to the entire South and East coasts by 1939 Time to rearm meant Britain was much readier for war than at Munich Knowledge (defeat) Combined might of Britain, France, Czechoslovakia and Soviet Union may have encouraged Hitler to back down Czechs had a large, well-equipped army and had strong defences in Northern Bohemia With most of Hitler s forces concentrated to attack the Czechs, the French would have had overwhelming numerical superiority in the west, both in the air and on the ground victory likely

3 Argument However, it can be argued that Munich was defeat because... Chamberlain aware of facts and figures, and knew that the money for defence had been allocated well before September 1938 If Britain and France had stood by the Czechs in the first place Hitler may have been stopped Some experts argue Germany was not as strong as they appeared convincing propaganda Taking Czechoslovakia made Germany substantially stronger militarily and financially 2. Czechoslovakia worth it? Chamberlain felt that Benes should have made concessions to the Sudeten Germans before the crisis began this attitude was made clear in his radio broadcast of 27 th September Some questioned the validity of the Czechoslovakian state as it contained so many minority groups Chamberlain stated How horrible, fantastic, incredible it is that we should be digging trenches and trying on gas masks because of a quarrel in a far-away country between people of whom we know nothing. Pro appeasement lobby argued that the fate of Czechoslovakia had nothing to do with Britain Unlike France, Britain had no alliance with Czechoslovakia Argument Munich was a triumph because... Better to sacrifice Czechoslovakia than risk plunging Europe into slaughter again Knowledge (defeat) Czechoslovakia lost land Czechoslovakia felt betrayed by their allies Czechoslovakia left vulnerable to further German aggression Benes resigned Britain, as a member of the League of Nations + as a signatory to Versailles, was duty bound to protect Czechoslovakia

4 It was a diktat that excluded Czechoslovakia as Germany had experienced at Versailles Argument However, it can be argued that Munich was defeat because... Czechoslovakia was sacrificed by an ally to prevent war that may have looked likely anyway Chamberlain became personally involved in the crisis and made it a matter of concern to Britain thus should not abandon it when it came to war All countries have a moral obligation to support victims of aggression 3. Unreliable Allies/Lack of International Response Czechoslovakia doomed after Anschluss. Geographically the Anschluss put Czechoslovakia in a very vulnerable position After the remilitarisation of the Rhineland, Germany s back door was secured by the building of the Siegfried Line. Any assistance to Czechoslovakia would involve a long protracted war to get to Czechoslovakia by which time Czechoslovakia may have succumbed anyway. Italy & Japan may also join in against Britain Over Czechoslovakia it was clear that France would only move against Germany with British support, and this was not forthcoming French public opinion more divided than Britain and successive governments pinned military strategy on the Maginot Line which was defensive, not offensive, in its very nature. Self-governing dominions had shown in 1937 that they would not automatically support Britain in a European war. Reinforced in September 1938 when the High Commissioners (ambassadors) of Australia, Canada and South Africa made it clear that they were not prepared to go to war over Czechoslovakia Chamberlain criticised for not including Soviet Union in the agreement as they were allies to the Czechs To access Czechoslovakia the Soviet Union would have to go through Poland or Romania which neither country was prepared to allow

5 Argument Munich was a triumph because... Going to war over Czechoslovakia seemed not to be a viable option. How could Britain survive a war with Germany if she could not trust her allies? Munich delayed war and therefore bought time until Britain could ensure her allies could be depended upon Knowledge (defeat) Czechoslovakia was a thriving, successful democracy with a strong natural defence line Argument - However, it can be argued that Munich was defeat because... Some historians claim that Czechoslovakia was the time to take a stand. Czechoslovakia was a thriving, successful democracy the perfect ally Czech military forces + defences were very strong + would tie Germany into a war of encirclement Perhaps the Soviet Union may have joined in (they too had a treaty to protect Czechoslovakia) 4. British Public Opinion British public relieved that war was avoided Chamberlain praised on his return from Munich football crowds sang For he s a jolly good fellow Chamberlain reflected what many British people felt that another war would bring about unimaginable catastrophe, even worse than Argument - Munich was a triumph because... Better to sacrifice one country that many felt was too far away to be concerned with than go to war themselves

6 Argument - However, it can be argued that Munich was defeat because... Anti-appeasers saw the Munich agreement as dishonourable. The Evening Standard contained a cartoon, headlining war postponed. Argued the agreement gave into a bully who would only come back for more + war was inevitable Many believed British public had been deceived by Chamberlain; believing Hitler was only righting the wrongs of Versailles Chamberlain was naive unaware of Hitler s true nature Hitler got all he wanted without a fight War was not prevented, only delayed. Obvious that Poland was next. Suggestions for conclusion Balanced sentence e.g. In conclusion, there are many arguments for and against the Munich Agreement Sum up key arguments in favour of Munich Sum up key counter-arguments Give an overall judgement on the question.